SALE OF ARMA INDIE TO PERTH INTERESTS

Co-trainer David Butt confirmed she was to leave Southland today destined for Auckland, from which she would fly to Melbourne next week and then on to Perth.

Her breeders and owners, Canterbury couple Davinia Harrison and Johnny Mathers, accepted a sizeable offer after two impressive wins at Omakau and Ascot Park.

Butt was thrilled for the pair, saying it would give them a good boost in the game.

“They’re good, young people who have bred one or two and this will now put them in front for a few years.

“They’ve got a half-sister by Roll With Joe in at the yearling sales next month, too.”

Butt revealed there was a push to sell Arma Indie this time last year when she was a juvenile, but it never materialized and instead she went north to race at Auckland.

“We sent her up to Robert Dunn and she did a good job up there.

“This time in she came back a bit stronger and more sensible.”

Arma Indie closed out her two-year-old campaign with a surprise second behind Princess Tiffany in the Group 1 $150,000 Harness Jewels at Cambridge.

Butt said it was never easy to see a nice horse to leave the stable, but it’s the nature of the game, especially with the big money being offered from the likes of Perth.

“They’re hard to find, that’s for sure.

“She’s a lovely filly and I’m sure will do a super job over there for them.”

Also heading to Perth is promising Ashburton mare, Twilight Saga.

She’s been acquired by Greg and Skye Bond in Perth after recording a win and three seconds for trainer Laurence Hanrahan.

On the same plane to Perth as Arma Indie is consistent Waikato trotter Mortician, who has been purchased out of the Jason and Megan Teaz stable by Nathan Turvey.

And last season’s dual Derby place-getter, Sicario, has been acquired by a syndicate associated with the Victorian stable of former Kiwi trainer Brent Lilley.

He won 11 races and nearly a quarter-million dollars for his owner, Bill Feiss, and trainers, Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen.

Four-win Auckland pacer Rain Man has been sold out of Steven Reid’s stable and will join the KerryAnn Turner and Robert Morris barn at Menangle in Sydney.

They have also recently acquired the three-year-olds Fear Cruisin and Our Sequel from the stables of Peter Robertson and Tony Herlihy respectively.

And Dazzle Me, an impressive six-length debut winner at Roxburgh earlier in the month, has been purchased of Alister Black’s stable by New South Wales trainer Barry Lew, who once ventured to New Zealand with his former stable star, Karloo Mick.